Car Review: 2013 BMW 740Li xDrive

2013 BMW 740Li xDrive

PHOTO: Handout, BMW

2013 BMW 740Li xDrive

PHOTO: Handout, BMW

By Graeme Fletcher, National Post

Originally published: February 7, 2013

SMALL

MEDIUM

LARGE

Big. That pretty much sums up the BMW 740Li xDrive. It is a description that can, however, have a negative connotation — lethargic and boat-like. In this instance, big is a bonus that equates to a ton of stretch-out space that arrives with a healthy dose of driving enjoyment.

Up front, the 7’s size equates to plenty of leg, elbow and headroom, even for those well over six feet tall. Throw in the 16-way power seat and power tilt/telescopic steering wheel adjustment, and regardless of the driver’s height, the driving position can be tailored perfectly. It is an accommodating environment — the seat support, adjustable lumbar and the ability to lengthen the base combine to deliver great long-distance driving comfort.

Move rearward and things are even better. The seat is comfortable and the legroom — all 1,124 millimetres of it — accommodated my long and lanky buddy with ease. I, on the other hand, found my short little legs getting lost in the space. That was where the moveable footrest came into play.

As is to be expected of a car costing more than $100,000, it has a list of amenities that runs the gamut — from the power toys and navigation system to the superb sound system, the test car was lavish to the point of verging on overkill. If there is a complaint, it is how some of the more desirable optional features are bundled up in expensive packages. For example, the backup camera, ventilated front seats and satellite radio — features that should be standard on a car costing more than $100,000 — are packaged with soft-close doors and deck lid along with rear and side sunshades. Why?

The 740Li is big on power. The 3.0-litre inline six has the air blown into its cylinders without any sign of turbo-lag. This means the 315 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, which turns up for work at an effortless 1,300 rpm, delivers silky alacrity. The engine also remained anonymous — the idle quality was superb and at a single rev below redline it retained its civility. So much so that the noise that did manage to filter back to the occupants remained muted.

Part of the reason for the 7’s energized pickup in the low and mid-ranges boils down to the eight-speed manumatic transmission. The first six gears are strung together such that the engine never drops out of its broad powerband. This brings a run to 100 kilometres an hour in 5.7 seconds, which is surprisingly fast for a 1,973-kilogram saloon. The two top overdrive gears then bring long-distance cruising comfort and surprising fuel economy — a test average of 9.9 litres per 100 kilometres.

The power is relayed to the road through BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system. Under normal circumstances, the system sends 40% of the power to the front wheels and the rest to the rear, which imparts a rear-drive feel. However, the intelligence engineered into the system allows it to split the power evenly in an instant — it is so fast the driver remains oblivious to its action except for the fact there is no unwanted wheel spin whatsoever. Throw in the winter tires the tester was wearing and the 740Li’s foul weather traction proved to be complete.

As Post Driving’s David Booth pointed out when he tested the ActiveHybrid7, few large cars dance as well as the long-wheelbase 7 Series. Something that looks a limousine because of its voluminous accommodations should feel more like the Titanic than a svelte sports car. The big 7 felt like a smaller, lighter speedster and not like the bloated boat I was half expecting. There was very little body roll, the reaction to steering input was fast and refined, and, thanks to the aforementioned xDrive, understeer/oversteer just did not surface as I expected. However, what really did surprise me was how the 740 Li retained its composure when pushed toward the limits of adhesion.

On the comfort side of things, the 740Li is equally gifted — it wafted along the highway such that the occupants remained oblivious to the ruts, swells and potholes that define many Canadian roads.

A big part of the reason the 7 rides and handles so well boils down to the Driving Experience Control and the different driving modes it allows the driver to select. For example, Eco Pro softens things to the point of making the 740Li feel soggy — mind you, it would bring a smile to a hyper-miler’s face. Comfort&#43; sets the damping, engine and transmission such that the car rides and drives like a big limo. The Sport mode makes thing feel much more athletic and proved to be the best all-round setting. When it was time for a little driving fun, selecting Sport&#43; sharpened everything and made the 7 feel so much lighter on its tires. It also limits electronic intervention, which broadened my smile. It really does bring the best of divergent worlds together is a single system.

Yes, the 740Li xDrive does carry a big price tag, but a potential buyer does get value for his money. The ride is supremely comfortable, the handling is nicely dialed in and there is a boatload of luxury. The bigger advantage is found in the 740Li xDrive all-weather security. It is, as is the rest of the car, big!